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August 19-21 Box Office Results

Another weekend has gone by in the month of August – and it was not a good weekend for new released films. Out of the top five spots in the box office, only two of the films were new releases.

Suicide Squad once again, for the third weekend in a row, stayed in the number one spot. And the R-Rated animated comedy, Sausage Party, kept its spot in second place for the second weekend in a row as well.

Newly released films, War Dogs as well as Kubo and the Two Strings, managed to take places three and four respectively – and are only separated by two million dollars.

Check out the list below!

No 1. Suicide Squad – $20,855,401. Bringing its total gross in its 3rd weekend to $262,428,736.

No 2. Sausage Party– $15,485,577. Bringing its total gross in its 2nd weekend to $65,486,596.

No 5. Pete’s Dragon– $11,349,938. Bringing its total gross in its 2nd weekend to $42,911,207.

Looking at this list brought up something up that needs addressing.

For the last couple of years there has been an outcry on social media outlets all over the internet with people crying out “there are too many sequels and reboots and movies based on books – why are there not more movies based on original ideas?”

To that I say look at this weekend’s box office!

Kubo and the Two Strings is a movie directed by Travis Knight, who got an Oscar nomination for best animated picture in 2015 for Boxtrolls. And has also worked on beloved films such as ParaNorman and Coraline.

Knight’s new film had a great trailers, and a great voice cast staring Charlize Theron, and Matthew McConaughey. And yet, it comes in fourth at the box office – where the films that beat it are a third running comic book movie that has had a lukewarm response from audiences and critics alike, an R-Rated animated comedy where food products have a huge orgy, and a drama/war comedy based on a Rolling Stone article.

Kubo and the Two Strings was they only movie considered an original idea at the box office and nobody went to go see it. Even though it is currently being praised by critics and audience members (the few that went to go see it) alike.

It is because of this, that studios don’t want to take chances on more original movies – because sequels, spin-offs, and films based on already known properties or ideas are a safer bet with today’s movie going audience. There is almost no money to be made on original ideas in films right now. And who can blame them for not taking the risk?

I don’t mind the trend of sequels and spinoffs and such. As long as the film is entertaining I don’t care where there story originates from. But to those that are not like me, start supporting original movies if you want things to change. Crying out on social media doesn’t do anything. If you want to vote for things to see in the theater, vote with your wallet – tweets and petitions do nothing except portray you as a winning child stopping their feet because they can’t get what they want.

But I’m just one person with this opinion, if you think differently, or want to add more leave a comment below and we can make a discussion about it.